Eating well in a dorm.

Not sure, but I'm probably not the only person going through this little problem right now.

I'm a fresh arrival at a dorm...so far, the dorm I'm staying in seems a lot nicer than I expected...fairly quiet as long as the windows are closed, a lot bigger than I expected, and nice and clean. Unfortunately, the university has very strict limits on what kinds of kitchen appliances we can bring to the dorms. I have a microwave and a small refrigerator with a really tiny freezer...pretty much everything else is banned as a fire hazard. It doesn't help that the cafeterias close at 7:00 and aren't very good anyways.

I've been trying to figure out how to make and store halfway-healthy foods, without much luck so far...I guess it doesn't help that I'm a vegetarian, to be honest. I mean, fruit is great to have, but a banana isn't going to keep me going through four hours straight of classes. I haven't had a whole lot of luck finding vegetarian TV dinners, either...most of them are either horribly bland or really unhealthy AND bland. And as much as I'd love to just eat at Z'Mariks for every meal, I can't really afford to spend $6.00 and change every time I'm hungry.

So, does anyone here have any recipes or ideas on how I can make a decent meal, given my rather limited kitchen-thingy? Prepackaged foods, frozen dinners, fresh foods, anything that I can make is fine.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Check out Amy's Kitchen for vegetarian and vegan TV dinners, frozen burritos, soups, etc. I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian, but I like their stuff quite a bit. They are a little more expensive, but I think it's worth it.

Their soups are especially excellent. Try the Lentil.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I am a huge fan of veggie burgers. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but they are simply a minute in the microwave and taste incredible. You can make burgers, which aren't really that time consuming [depends on how mcuh you need to put in it] and they just taste incredible and are very healthy.

I'm moving into my dorm on Sunday, and I'll need to think about this as well. My room has a kitchen, but I don't know whether or not I should get a mealplan anyway just in case or not... can't cook ALL the time, I'll be very busy. Hmm...

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

A lot of people love ramen, and it's just about the cheapest food on the planet.

If you get the stuff in a cup, you can usually just microwave some water and put it inside.

From personal experience though, unless the food at the cafeteria is TERRIBLE, I'd recommend eating there and using the fridge/microwave for small snacks when it's closed. My typical fridge was mostly filled with coke and various juices, and I usually had some kind of finger foods for midnight stuff.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Ramen is cheap because it's crap. There's no nutritional value in ramen.

Steamed broccoli and carrots is cheap and easy to make in a microwave. Just add soy sauce or garlice butter or whatever you like. Soups are good because they don't take up room in your tiny refrigerator. Yogurt, sandwiches, and pasta with red sauce (and squash/zucchini) are all easy things that would work in a limited kitchen like yours.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Well congrats on moving into your first dorm. It's a kickass experience.

Last year when I was on residence we had a small communal kitchen. We weren't allowed to have microwaves or toasters of that sort in our rooms.

As for your situation, you can do things like, microwave a can of vegetarian chili. Get some cheese, veges and a pita and then make yourself a nice health y wrap. You can also microwave eggs, steam veges and that sort. If you have access to a stove...then you have a lot more options.

I found that I ended up eating 2 meals a day in res, 1 brunch 1 dinner, though you can experiment differently. If you are on a set meal plan like everyone eats at this time, eating together kinda like a big family dinner, then stuff yourself. If you're on the pay as you go style then buy some extra and keep it in your room till you're hungry at night. Check if your mealplan can be used for paying for delivery stuff. Our mealplan worked for pizza pizza and pitas.

Also check with your roommates and what they plan on eating. Make sure you'll be fine if they cook meat or whatnot in your room and if you cook smelly veges in the room (ex portabello mushrooms...well i generally hate mushrooms, so it might smell nice to you guys)

Stock up on canned soup, but honestly, I found that as long as you have some snacks to munch on, you'll usually be fine.

Galen: you have a kickass avatar. lol

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by galen

Check out Amy's Kitchen for vegetarian and vegan TV dinners, frozen burritos, soups, etc. I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian, but I like their stuff quite a bit. They are a little more expensive, but I think it's worth it.

Um...I think I've seen those a couple of times before. I've kind of ignored them so far because they are a bit more expensive than the cheap and nasty brands, as you say. I'll have to try some out next time I walk out to the store...if they taste good and they're edible (I kind of wonder about the really cheap TV dinners), it's probably worth it!

Originally Posted by AliceNWondrland

Steamed broccoli and carrots is cheap and easy to make in a microwave. Just add soy sauce or garlice butter or whatever you like. Soups are good because they don't take up room in your tiny refrigerator. Yogurt, sandwiches, and pasta with red sauce (and squash/zucchini) are all easy things that would work in a limited kitchen like yours.

This is a bit embarassing to ask, but what is the easiest way to steam vegetables in a microwave? My parents had some sort of plastic microwave steamer, and a really fancy bamboo...thingy, but I have nothing except for plastic forks and bowls right now. I'm guessing that I'll at least need to pick up some microwaveable bowls and plates?

I do have a meal plan, by the way. The university makes everyone buy at least 10 meals unless they live in Mayflower, which has kitchens shared between two rooms. The cafeteria food isn't that bad, but the halls close at either 7:00 or 8:00 (they don't seem to be quite sure which time), and the food selection is very limited (especially for a vegetarian) between lunch and dinner hours, which is pretty much the only time that I can eat on most days. I don't expect to eat everything in my room, but it would be nice to at least be able to make a decent meal here.

FELIPE NO

Here's how I do it. I put the broccoli and carrots in a microwave-safe bowl, put about 2 tablespoons of water in it, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and cook it on high for about 3 minutes. I buy that Butter Buds seasoning and put some of that with some salt and pepper on it. It's pretty good.

That shouldn't be embarrassing. You're new at this. How would you know if you've never done it before?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

if you're going to be mircowaving a lot, I suggest getting some glass bowls. I know stuff like gladware says it's microwave safe, but over time all that microwaving apparently releases toxins or what-have-you into the food. it's probably not dangerous levels, but probably not a good thing none the less.

I suggest keeping a lot of canned soups on hand. you could keep cereal or bagels for breakfast, which should keep for a while so long that you've kept them properly sealed. keep a lot of bottled water and juice around, even if it doesn't fit in your fridge, just have it stacked somewhere and refridgerate what you've opened.

when you go home to visit parents or whoever, try making a bunch of healthy food while you're there and just bring it back in plastic containers. whether it's something that needs reheating or something you can just eat cold it's probably not a bad idea to try doing that. plus it's free for you and a lot healthier because it won't have the preservatives and MSG that a lot of premade food you buy from the store will.

I'm going to have try and figure out the whole healthy eating thing too since this'll be my first year, I'm moving out on sunday. =o

Most amazing jew boots

Ah, thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Originally Posted by ava lilly

if you're going to be mircowaving a lot, I suggest getting some glass bowls. I know stuff like gladware says it's microwave safe, but over time all that microwaving apparently releases toxins or what-have-you into the food. it's probably not dangerous levels, but probably not a good thing none the less.

I suggest keeping a lot of canned soups on hand. you could keep cereal or bagels for breakfast, which should keep for a while so long that you've kept them properly sealed. keep a lot of bottled water and juice around, even if it doesn't fit in your fridge, just have it stacked somewhere and refridgerate what you've opened.

when you go home to visit parents or whoever, try making a bunch of healthy food while you're there and just bring it back in plastic containers. whether it's something that needs reheating or something you can just eat cold it's probably not a bad idea to try doing that. plus it's free for you and a lot healthier because it won't have the preservatives and MSG that a lot of premade food you buy from the store will.

I'm going to have try and figure out the whole healthy eating thing too since this'll be my first year, I'm moving out on sunday. =o

Wow, I didn't know that plastic bowls would melt down and poison you. I'm going to have to find actual dishes somewhere, I guess. I've already been stocking up on soup and juice, but taking leftover food from home is a great idea...don't know how often I'll see my parents, but I'm sure that I can wring at least a few meals out of them.

Originally Posted by AliceNWondrland

Here's how I do it. I put the broccoli and carrots in a microwave-safe bowl, put about 2 tablespoons of water in it, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and cook it on high for about 3 minutes. I buy that Butter Buds seasoning and put some of that with some salt and pepper on it. It's pretty good.

That shouldn't be embarrassing. You're new at this. How would you know if you've never done it before?

Ah, thanks. I think I've got it. I am pretty clueless when it comes to cooking anything more complex than microwaving junk food...I kinda feel like I should know how to cook something by now. Guess I have to learn sometime, though!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah about the plastic thing, I'm pretty sure it's true. My friend who got one of those Evian bottles decided to reuse it several times and he noticed a funny taste in his water afterwards.

A tip for microwaving old rice is to wet a napkin and cover the rice with it. This way your rice won't be crunchy or whatnot when you eat it. Other veges you can steam like Alice mentioned are potatoes and corn. Just add butter and instant meal =)

Heh good luck to all your first years. Don't go home every week, get to know people. Go to all your classes...really, it does help. Tutorials rock (as long as your TA's don't suck). Get involved, join clubs. Oh yeah abuse your university sharing network (if you have one). For all thsoe Canadian universitiers, as far as I know, Waterloo University has a network, but they don't allow certain things on it (such as pornography) and also they ban you from the internet if you use bittorrent.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I would stay away from the microwave altogether because it leeches a lot of nutrients from food. A plant stops growing once watered with microwaved water and babies that are fed microwaved formula lose out on essential nutrients that die when nuked.

For breakfast, I recommend oatmeal and milk with a crushed banana, honey and some cinnamon and vanilla. It gets to be really tedious because you gotta warm it over the stove, so it's just easier to eat it cold. And no, there are no indigestion and farting from eating uncooked oatmeal.

For dinner, you can make pasta and oil. I find linguine works best for this. Boil the pasta with a pinch of salt and drain it when its done. Then put two tablespoons of olive oil on a pan and cook some chopped garlic until its brown. Next, add the pasta and cook it at medium heat. You can add whatever you want in it. Curry, salt, pepper, basil, parsley, ground beef, mushrooms, fresh vegetables and a whole bunch of other things work well with this.

Cooking is not easy, and it'll become a chore to feed yourself, but you'll end up doing it because you want to survive lol.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by SemperFidelis

I would stay away from the microwave altogether because it leeches a lot of nutrients from food. A plant stops growing once watered with microwaved water...

Um, no.

Microwaved Water

I got mixed answers about the baby formula bit, but I'd reckon it's as false as the other one.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I'm going back to school as well, but this time, I have a kitchen with stoves and shit.

Depending on your budget, a rice cooker (if they'll allow it, that is...) is a super cheap way to make some rice. If you buy a decent one, you can even make yogurt, porridge, mochi, etc.

Definetly go with the "make-meals-at-home-and-bring-back-to-the-dorm" idea. You'll actually be able to use more than a microwave, so the quality of the food'll taste better (at least, to me; microwaved foods always taste kinda weird).

Another thing is to buy breads; bagels, English muffins, toast, whatever. If you buy some butter or jam, you can have a really quick and easy snack.

Instant grits and oatmeal is really hearty and delicious, and microwaveable as well!

Good luck with your dorm life!

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Microwaves/toasters weren't allowed in my dorms. Fridges were okay, and like Devo's friends, I snuck a rice cooker in also for that must-have warm rice. I never had much to eat with it though. So like everyone else, my "meal points" were often wasted at the cafateria. That sucks that yours closes at 7 though. That time is an early dinner for me. :/

Even with a microwave, I dunno. Ramen, fries, some burgers/sandwiches, easy mac... live unhealthy for a while then get out of the dorms when you can.

Also, I bought some Easy Mac this week. I was surprised by how much easier it's gotten over the years.

FELIPE NO

Well, first off, get used to early dinners, and later-night snacks. Don't forget the existance of canned soup, and you can cook fresh vegetables (like sweet potatoes) in a microwave.

See if your dorm has a common kitchen. Mine did, though I never had to use it, it was nice to know that it was there.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Rakka

Wow, I didn't know that plastic bowls would melt down and poison you. I'm going to have to find actual dishes somewhere, I guess. I've already been stocking up on soup and juice, but taking leftover food from home is a great idea...don't know how often I'll see my parents, but I'm sure that I can wring at least a few meals out of them.

My mom had the great idea of freezing single-size portions of meals and sending them back to school with me in a cooler, so they last alot longer. Most things defrost in the microwave fairly easily, and they're much better tasting than store-bought frozen dinners. If all you've got is one of those tiny fridges with an icebox at the top that barely holds ice, I'd see if your university rents out small freezers, or find someone you know who has one, cause the ones in the mini fridges don't keep things very cold. Ice cream usually melts. =/

Also, getting a pyrex dish with a glass cover on it is worth the investment. You can cook your veggies in there the way that Alice described, as well as rice and eggs (if you put an egg--deshelled--in the microwave and heat it for a bit, it comes out as very fluffy scrambled egg), as well as cook noodles and heat up soups and all that.

Another thing that will keep you from snacking on whatever unhealthyness you can get from a vending machine is to have a large quantity of fresh fruit on hand. Bananas are good to have around because of the high potassium content, which will give your brain a boost. Keep peanut butter or almond butter around to add some protein. Have low-fat popcorn around, too, it's great when you've got the munchies at one in the morning.

Originally Posted by SemperFidelis

I would stay away from the microwave altogether because it leeches a lot of nutrients from food. A plant stops growing once watered with microwaved water and babies that are fed microwaved formula lose out on essential nutrients that die when nuked.

When a microwave is all you have access to, you use it. Obviously it's not the best choice, but for those of us who don't have access to the deliciously healthy benefits of an MRE, it's better than eating uncooked oatmeal. (Although oatmeal, if she likes it, is a good idea for breakfast, because it's one of those things that fills you up and lasts longer than cereal or bread).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by nadienne

cause the ones in the mini fridges don't keep things very cold. Ice cream usually melts. =/

That's very true, we put in a tub of icecream and sideways...and our freezer wasn't exactly...yeah. Oh you can turn up the power...but then the stuff on the top rack of the fridge starts freezing. Cruddy uni fridges.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by BlueEdge

That's very true, we put in a tub of icecream and sideways...and our freezer wasn't exactly...yeah. Oh you can turn up the power...but then the stuff on the top rack of the fridge starts freezing. Cruddy uni fridges.

They really are terrible. I can't tell you how many times I drank milk with ice chips in it. My friends made the mistake of putting brightly colored popsicles in the freezer bit once, and they melted in a giant, colorful sticky rainbow all over everything else in the fridge. Shortly after that the three of them went in and bought a deep freeze that they kept in the bedroom.

Most amazing jew boots

I used to live in an apartment without a kitchen. I made it by with a toaster oven, hot plate, microwave, and later on, a magic bullet. If you are just feeding yourself, the toaster oven should cover your oven needs, and a hot plate can take the place of your rice cooker and Foreman grill. I also use a Magic Bullet instead of a conventional blender. Eating vegetarian is not a big problem as long as you have the recipes for doing it. I don't eat strictly vegetarian, but I only eat meat about twice to three times a week.

Check out getting a Magic Bullet. I love frozen fruit blended with some fruit juice. You get all the nutrients of the fruit, and it is usually naturally sweet enough without sugar.

Another idea is making burritoes. Get some cooked or canned black beans, with rice, gardeneirs (sp?), cheese (I prefer sharp cheddar or pepper jack, or drop it if you're vegan), and some sauteed vegetables in there never hurt either. Put your ingredients on one side of a tortilla wrap, fold it over, fold in the sides, and finish rolling it up. Remember not to use too much ingredients, or you won't be able to seal it up. If you have trouble sealing it up, you can use a little olive oil as glue. If you have cheese in it, microwave it for about 60 ~ 90 seconds to melt the cheese inside. Then stick it in the toaster oven for about two minutes to harden the wrap. We eat these after training for our protein supplement. Hope you like them too.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I love toaster ovens, but they're banned in my dorm...since my RA loves to pop into peoples' rooms all the time, I don't think I could get away with sneaking one in. Actually, everything but microwaves, very small refrigerators, and, oddly enough, crock pots seems to be prohibited.

My freezer actually seems to keep things frozen...it even manages to keep the refrigerated stuff not-frozen most of the time! Unfortunately, the freezer is so small that it's useless for anything other than frozen dinners (it can fit...maybe four of them total) and Cuties...which are really good if you've never tried them before.

Originally Posted by nadienne

Another thing that will keep you from snacking on whatever unhealthyness you can get from a vending machine is to have a large quantity of fresh fruit on hand. Bananas are good to have around because of the high potassium content, which will give your brain a boost.

Ah, one unexpected advantage of moving to college is that I've been eating a lot more fruits than I did at home...bananas and oranges are convenient, taste good, and they're healthy. Now I just need to force myself to like apples.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Try getting different kinds of apples every time you go to the grocery store. I've found that of all the varities the ones I like best are Granny Smiths and Fuji. Golden Delicious are pretty good, though I don't like them as much as the other two. Most the rest of apples I could do without.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Rakka

I love toaster ovens, but they're banned in my dorm...since my RA loves to pop into peoples' rooms all the time, I don't think I could get away with sneaking one in. Actually, everything but microwaves, very small refrigerators, and, oddly enough, crock pots seems to be prohibited.

I would starve to death

A crock pot could be your saving grace. I just can't help you there. Good luck to you!

FELIPE NO

I've been living in a dorm in Copenhagen for two weeks. I have a small kitchen with a microwave and a small fridge, but most of the hot meals I've eaten so far are pasta. I can't buy frozen food becuase I don't have a freezer, and I can't find many Spanish ingredients in groceries. I think I'm not eating well, but making complicated recipes in a small kitchen is a chore. I hope I can eat better in a couple of weeks.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

Try getting different kinds of apples every time you go to the grocery store. I've found that of all the varities the ones I like best are Granny Smiths and Fuji. Golden Delicious are pretty good, though I don't like them as much as the other two. Most the rest of apples I could do without.

Ah...good advice.

I went a bit nuts and bought one of each type of apple that my favorite store had in stock, and the Fuji and Braeburn apples were actually pretty tasty. I still hate Red Delicious apples, though...a bit unfortunate, because those are the only kind that the university cafeteria has most of the time. In any case, it's nice to have something besides bananas for quick snacks!

Jam it back in, in the dark.